Friction clutch



Nv. 16, 1943. R. A. CARLSON 2,334,382

FRICTION CLUTCH Nav. 16, 1943.`

R. A. CARLSON FRICTION CLUTCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1941 A33/gw@ Patentamt 16, 1943 a 1 s 2,334,382*

.l y :EMOTION CLUTCH n Y n. RaymondvrAg fCarlson, Rockford, yIll.,assignolgto y l e A Borg-Warner Corporation,,Chicago,v.lll.,;aco l. n .i Applicati'opzijebwr "14, 1 941, seria1No.37s,s4s e s A l n 715.61%@55- (ClflQZ-BS v f f I 'Tnsmventionreiates to fritin 'oiutens and willen areseurjd asby means- 0f riyetsflt, pair hasas its primary objectto providea friction of'embracing facings I6 of'suitable vfricti'onal clutch wherein facing wear` islcofmpensatedfor", material. *Interposed between the segments lll Within a limited range, by automatic adnjl'istment are a pluralityvof loose VsegmentsV Il offsubnstarwithin linkage which transmits clutch operating 5 ytially thesame'thickness as fthe segments |4f`so pressure from an operating member` to j the 7 asto :cooperate with"the`""segments` I4 Vin mainclutching elements and -whereinftheclutch en taining the facings I6 in parallel-planes while gaging pressure is maintained'jata substantially taking theV pressure ofi clutch engageirlent;v The 4uniform maximum lthrough Asuch aiitllrnatic` adsegments |71ar'egiconn'edv betweerifthe'facings justment v -Y Y 10 flf6, the segmentsfldfland the'driveringflll.V

The invention "ifurther contemplatesprovision The-segments Mjand ITare" provided with of supplemental adjustment meansfwhereby peripheral teeth 9 andjSa respectively meshing periodical-adjustment may be `eiected manually with the internal teethjIZ of' the Ydrive ring l0.

to extend the range of automatic adjustment The teeth on theloose:segmentsY I'lare adapted provided in the linkage. Y 15 to snugly engage the teethflZ Aunder the effect The invention contemplates specifically n Vthe of centrifugal force, so as to takej'up the back# provisionl of such adjusting mechanism in a lash `between the facings andthe drivevringl.

clutch of "the type wherein'clutch engagement The facings'l arel adapted to be engaged beis effected by advancing an operatingv member tweenapair of driven elements`- I9 and 20, the "against aplurality of engagement levers which elementv lfhavngafhubi portion "2| which is -in turnV transmit the `pressuretoone of the splined'upon a drivenshaft zlandtheeleinent 'clutching Aelements while reacting against van# 2D having internal teeth `23"*meslfiing `'with splines other of the clutchingelements. 'j i 24' on the hub portion' 2ll so asjto'be drivingly The invention further contemplatesthe uticonnect'edthereto'.whilecapable of axialjshitt#` lizationof the above ,c lescribed`l V"characterisetics 25 ling mQvemnttO permit'clutch engagement-J n. Vin a Mclutch of the type wherein the'driving,'ele-l Mounted on the shaft 2`2 forfaxial shifting ment is in the form of an annularfacing carry-` movement is a sleevej 25 which isjuconnected ing member and the driven elementsfgare in the through the medium of an endthrust bearing 'form of a pair of opposed'annular membersem y26 with a c ollar Zl'having trunnions .28 adapted bracing and adapted to engage thefacings of the to'coactlwitharshfting fOlk` 0f 0I1Veni0r1a1 def drivingmember, one'y of'the'driven elements be-4 "sign, ,Securedi upon thesleeve 25 is an operating ingfixe'd to the driven shaftand the other being cam ring 29Whaving a frusta-conical `cam surface drivingly connected thereto and axially shiftable 340 terminating in a reentrantlocking groove 3l.

to effect clutch engagement. l i n I l A further object of the invention is to provide movementfrom the `cam 29 tothe driven clutcha clutch which in addition to the 'above noted irigelements |9"v`andn"'2 0, in cludesa .plurality "of characteristics, is of relatively simple and comlevers 32Veach fulcrumedon a pivotpin' 33 mountpact'construction; 1 j edbetweena pairof ears, 34 of a fulcrllm member Other1 objects, the`- advantages and usesof the 35 which is `fixedly ,associated with the driven invention will become moi'e'apparent after read- 40 `element I9 and'shaftiZZ as `for example, by Imeans ing the following specication and vclainisgfand ofthe'machinescrews 1 securing ittothedriven after consideration of the drawings formingfa Y elementm. The levers 3 2 are intheformbf bell part of the specification, wherein:v l Y f cranks, VeachV including'an arm 36 extending lin Fig.` 1 is an axial sectional View of a`clutch a generally axial directionand anarmle'xtendembodying my invention, the clutchvbeing--shown ing radially nwardlyg Thefarm 3871s formed at in engaged relation; its endwith a forkL'SB-,in which is journalled a Fig. 2' is an axia1 section@ lView showing the roller as adapted toscoact .withrhecam1face3nclutch disengaged; and Y j n The transmitting linkage furtherl includes manjljig.` 3 is .a transverse "sectional *view of the ual adjustment means, indicated generally at 8,

elutch, taken on the line 3-e- -3` of Fig.k1. 50 and. resilient transmission links, indicated gener- `As an example of one form in which theginven- Aallypat 3,. bbih interposed in Sries wthfeabh Linkage `for` transmitting. clutch operating tion maybe embodied, I"have"shown .inthe drawother-j` between the levers; 3 2 and thedrivenlelef ings a vclutch'of the heavy'dlity'A industrialvv type, ment 20.'v` j] 'El j j s including a drive transmitting member I0 hav- The adjustment means 3 COmPISQS `im adjust'- ing openings l lby means of which it may be 55 ing cam ringv44 and aplurality of levers `ll, the attachedto' a drivingmember such as"for ex- 'ring 44 being 'carried by the driven elementvrZ ampleya flywheelrfalndfhaving 11l1e11'12t1-y` teeth: l2 and the. levers 4B being voperatively interposed be'- fontransmittingfdrive to a driving'clutch ele'- tween therrin'grandlthe resilientwlink `|8L' `The menty indicated :generally at I3. The driving eleleversfareembraced between'A the'ears 34 of mentljincludes 'a plurality'of eircumferentially 60 fthe,f`ul y rnlmerynberland areiulc'rumed n'pivot separated acing supporting" segments "14j Ato "pin`s` 4I' muntedin theears 34`outwardlydf the ings 41. s Y The resilient linkslB are levers inner arms of the levers 40 are bifurcated to provide spaced f urcations53 which embrace the levers 13 2.' YLlhe outerfarms`42'of the levers llare'engaged against cam 'surfaces'43 on the adjusting ring 44. The ring 44 has a Harige element. The surplus movement is absorbed in the compression/of the sp ring 4l9`. y This surplus Y movement-is' `utilized to :take up slack in-the link- 45 whichv issecured against the rear face of the driven element 20 by means of screws 45.141

The screws 46 extend through openings 41 in the flange 45 and maybe removed to permi-tthe ring 44 to be rotated with reference tothe drivenelement 2U and reinserted through different openextending cylindrical bores 48 in the hub portion cludes ai c oil spring 4 9, a draw bolt 5Iland a washer 5 I lthe :spring-49 :beingnengaged between the-washer 53| anda -head 5 2` on one-.end of Athe mounted in axiallyy vdraw bolt 50. The ghead 52. and lwasherf-5l are tted loosely in the. boreiv-48 -so as tobe axially slidablethereirnl f Y d The resilient` links vare each operativelyv inter.- posed betweenan .arrnSJof a lever 32 and the furcationsofthe correspondingleverw, The

arm 31 hast itslend a ffork embracing `theloolt receive'dlinnotches `54 formed in the sides of the ,bo1t, .and act-ing against ahead .55 defining one extremity lof-therespective notches .54. The

formedon thewasherI.. Y .l l

Rotation Vof Ithe adjustment ring ,44 with reference to -the driven element 20 causeslth'e levers 40 to-be .adjusted in a clockwise-direction around their pivots 4l, .the furcations 53 moving to the left andcoinpressing the springs 49. v Y

'The camri'ng. 44 formsarsupport fora clutch coverv which has a ring 5I -snugly fitted on the VVfurcations 53 .of'the leverD are engaged against arcuate endsurfaces .55 .of a pair .of wings 51 periphery of `the cam ring .44.and tapers rearwardly .and inwardly to an .openingEZ which .receives the operating member .2 l..

,lathe-.operation of .the clutch, assuming it to hein .disengagedposition as :shown inFig. 2,V the rotationof torque transmitting ring lil'by lthe power source .as contemplated willv result inv the free arcuate-segmental] being moved radially outwardly bringingjthe .teeth liak thereof into close engagementfwith the opposed teeth ,l2 'ofjthe torquering l0. AThe movementof operating cam 29 `to Ithe left in Fig. r2 will cause the rrollers 3S to ride radially ,outwardly against the cam face .3.3, in `turn.. causing the lever s' 3 2 to pivot in a counterclockwise Y,direction about their fulcrum pivots 3.3... Thearms '3110i thelevers 32k will swing ,tenne righi as viewedin the drawings, drawing lthe `bolts 5 0to the r ight,' and transferring movement through thecoil springs 49 and the washers 5|, to theadjustment levers 49,' vcausingthe latter to swing in' a c ounterclockwise directiong The outer arms 4 2 of .the levers40`, bearing against" the cam ring44', transm it tl 1e .movement to the vdriven element 2 9, advancing the latter to effect clutch engagement. The reaction' is transmitted from the levers 32 Atot the pivots 33, thence to the yfulcrum `rneirlher 3.5 and the driven element 319. Thusthe two .driven 4 elements are drawn together into clutching engagement with the drive element |3 As engagement is attained, the spring .49 Will yield, and-thusthe .engaging pressure is fixed at a' maximum determined by the spring load. i

" .'.lhe cam l.silrfaee .3.0 0f thejoperating member provides for consi. ...rebly more movement ofthe levers 32. than is necessaryV for advancing the .driven elementsyinto. engsgementwiih .the drive cli " mission links age that would" otherwise be cc'asioned by wearing down of the facings. Thus the yielding transl8 provide for automatic adjustment Vfor facing wear within a limited range. When this range of*l adjustment has been exhausted', it-rnay be extended by manually adjusting thejcam'jringM. Within the new range of ments er@ .ecsommedaiedWiihiriihe hdbfei the driven element I9.7 .The levers-1.",Zcarev partially 1. In" a. friction yclutch,. land' `driven friction clutching elements, as haft on which onefgffs'siii. elements.ismouniedffulcrumfmeass fixedlyassocated withlsaid ssh-aft, an :annular operating cam encircling'and axially slidalolewith referenceto. the shaft adjacentsaid fulcrum means, ,and linkage for tr'ansferring.clutch engaging pressureffr.omI said @am Y.tof said l .clutching. elements', said linkage comprising aplurality of bell-crank levers, fulcrufmedfonsaid-.fulcrum means, `each having .anfaxially extending arm coasting-with, said. cam and .anarm extending radially. inwardly, 'adjustment y V.means including an adjustment lever associatedlwith :eachofsaid bellfcrankle'vers andfulcrumedon said f-ulcrum means, an ,annularfadjusting Camsecured to said one clutching element `Lfor Arotatalcle-adjust'ment relative thereto 'and having caml portionscoactvving with the outer' arms fof. .the respective adjustment levers, 'andA resilient elements. Ainterposed between the inner arms'. of thefrespective adjustmentleversfand said ,inwardly extending armsvof the bell'c'ranklevers, said resilient .means being adaptedlto transmit clutch engaging pres- As ure'from Qthefbell-crank levers. tov the adjust.- men't'- levers '.at fa' maximum limit ypredetermined by `said,resilient.. means( "and to automatically compensate .withina limited range, for .wa'rb tween the 'clutching elements, said adjustment means being, adapted' to extend .the .range, of automatic takerup, `provided`-by ,said resilient meansj'.' L. .l

2. In a frictionY clutch, a clutching element having facings., apairof clutching elements ern-'- bracing and adaptedto clutchingly -engage said f facings, oneof said pairr of elements having a hub .portion and the vother having: 'al driving connection with said hub vportion permitting axial movement thereof for veffecting` clutch engageing zelement, 'said linkage ,comprising belllc'ank levers' pii'foted betweenf said ears',y having axially proJetin'g' arms' cooperating .with said; operatme membe' .andi ihavie'. inwardly 'priecins arms, r,resilient .transmitting links .coasting ,with

salu inwardly' extending arnisfand operatively interposed j bellWClfl .said .bellcrank lever's,and said movable clutoliingdelement, ald; resilient links being accommodated largely within Ithe confines of said hub, and levers operativelyinterposed between said resilient-.links andsaid movable clutching element, saidlast mentioned levers having bifurcatedzinnerarnisfembracing por,- tions of said bell-crank '.levers and Ain turn embraced between said ears. uif I. .l u?

I3. In a friction clutch, a clutching 'element providedwith a pair of facings'a `pairof clutching elements embracing and adapted to clutchin'gly engage said facings,oneofisaid pair of clutchinglelements including a hubfportiomashaft on which said hub Vportion :is mounted;' the'. third clutching element being axially movable lwith reference to theshaft,4 an axially shiftableoperating member, said hub having a plurality of axiallyextending bores', Yand linkage fortransferring clutch engaging pressure from said! operatinglmember to saidY clutching elements, said linkage comprisinga plurality of operating levers fulcrumed with reference to the shaft andY each having one arm arranged-to be acted upon'byA 3 .cauytake upgwithin anmnedrange, slack tending' to be 'developed in' the linkage asa result'of facing wear, while maintaining-asubstantially tending radially inwardly from its-fulcrum, coil ence to said shaft and each-having a radially inwardly extending arm arr'anged'to` 'receive clutch Aengaging pressure from theA otherfend of said coil spring'and an outer arm' arranged to transmit such pressureto theSaid-Jthird clutching element.`

4. `A friction clutch as defined in claim3,'in cluding adjustment means Vinterposed between said outer'- arms yand 'said third clutching` ele: ment, saidcoil spring'f-beirigl adapted ftd *automatically take up,V withina limitedl range, Vthe slack in the linkage tendinglto developV as a result of facing wear andsaid` adjustment means being adapted to extend the range of such automatictakeup..V

5. In a friction clutch, a` clutching element, facings carried thereby, a pairof clutching elements embracing and adapted'to clutchingly en-` gage said facingrs, oneof said `pail` ,of4 elements having a hub portion having external teeth, a shaft on which said hub portion is fixedthe other of .saidpairof elements being in the` form of a -ring having' internallteeth meshing"with said external teeth and permitting@ axial shift of said other element for effectingclutchfen constant maximum limit upon' thepressure transmittedV through the linkage, and said adjustment meansffunctioning to extend vthe `4range of an automatic takeup provided by Vsaid resilient means. ,u u 'A .7.1 In'a friction clutch,Y driving ,and driven friction clutching `elements, ashafton which one of said elements is. mountednfulcrum means xedlyl associated withsaidsh'aft; an annular operatingfmemberencircling and"` axially slidable with reference toflthe shaft, and linkage for transferringizclutch engaging pressure from said operatingfinember tosaidone clutching element, said linkagelprovidinga plurality of bell crank levers fulcrumed :on .saidjfulcrum means', each having anwaxially extendingtarmcoacting with said operating `member and .an arm extending radially inwardly, adjustment meansv including an ad- .justment lever associated with each of saidbell crank levers andfulcrumed on said fulcrum means, the 'inner regionsof said adjustment le-v vers beingsubstantially aligned with said inwardly extending bell crank arms, .means transmitting movement between said in 'ner ends of the adjustment levers and said .inwardly extending bell cranklarms, therouter arms of said adjustmentlevers extendingradially beyond the bell crank levers, and an annular adjusting cam secured to. said one clutchingelementfor rotatable adjustment relative thereto and having cam portionsfcoacting-with'said outer arms of the adjustmentlevers.`

8'; In a friction clutch, a pair of clutch elements and a third clutch element lfrictionally engageable between said pair of vclutch elements, an axiallyY shiftable operating member, and means for transmittingiclutch engaging pressure from said operating member to said pair ofclu'tch elements, said means comprising a fulcrnm i member arranged .to transmit vpressure to one ofsaid pair -of-ufelements; a first and second series of lever members, :and lresilient means adapted `topermit the operating member` to overtravel the'fpoint of complete "clutch engagementV associated, one with each of said iirst series of 1 levers,` each pivoted,fintermediate its ends,on

gagemenn'an axially movable operating member,

and linkage for transferring.` clutch engaging pressure from said` operatinggmember to said pair ofv clutching elements said linkage vcornprising a plurality of levers fulcrumed with reference to the shaft` and each havingan arm arv ranged to be acted upon by said operating member, a plurality of resilient elements conned in said hub and arranged to' receivefclutch engaging pressure' fromsaid'levers, and a Vplurality of generally radially extending levers fulcrumed with reference vto the shaft and arranged to receive the clutch engaging pressure from said resilient yelements and to transmit such pressure to said other clutching element. 1

6. A friction clutch as defined in claim 5, including adjustment means interposed between said levers and said other clutching elements, said'resilient means vbeing adapted to automatisaid fulcrum: member at a point radially outwardly'of the pivot of the associated lever of the iirst series and having an arm extending inward- 1y and arranged Ito receive pressure from the assoCiated lever` of 'the first series and an: arm extendingoutwardly'and arranged to transmit pressure tothe other of said pair of clutch elements.

9.-In a; friction clutch, a pairv of clutch elementsand a" third clutch element fri-ctionally engageable'betweensaid pair of clutch elements, anaxially shiftable operating member, and means for transmitting clutch engaging pressure from said operatingmember-to said pair of clutch elements, said means comprising afulcrum member arranged to transmit pressure to one of said pair of elements', a rstand second Yseries of 1ever members; and. resilient `nrieams ladapted to permit theoperating-member to overtravel the point `of cor'nplete'V clutch engagement so-as to mit such pressure to the 4 provide take-up `for Wear, atleast' one of 'said members vbeing adjustable to provide. further take-up, each of said levers of the first series being pivotedyintermediate its ends, on said ful- Y Crum member andhavingla long arm :adapted to receivepressurefrom` said operating member and having a short arm adapted to transmit theipressure to the associated lever of the second series,

'mentsan axially shiftable 'operating member,

and means 'for' transmitting clutch' engaging pressure .fromrsaid operating'mermber to. said pair of clutch'elements, saidzmeans comprising a' fulcrurn memberl arranged to transmit .pressure to one. of saidpair oi'elements, a first and second series of leverk members, and resilient means adapted to permit the operating memberV to overtravel thefpointof completegclutch engagement so Yas to provide take-up for wear, at ieastone of said' members being ladjustable to provide further take-up, each'ofvsaid llevers of the iirstseries being pivoted. on'said fulcrum' member and arranged toreceive clutch engaging pressure from said operationg member, and

each of said. levers of the second series being pivoted on'said ulcrum memberand arranged to receive clutch-engaging pressure from .the associated lever ofthe first series andtotransother of said pair1 of clutchfelements.v j I l1. A'clutch' as denediin claim. 8, wherein the resilient meansis-interposd between the levers `ofthe first series 'and the levers lof thev secon'd series.

2. In a friction clutch; driving and Vdriven clutch elements comprising apair of clutch ele ments and 'a third clutch'v element 'frictionally engageable between said pair of clutch elements', an Y axially shiftable operating member, and means for transmitting clutch engaging pressure fageszigssz and rneans lfor transmitting clutch engaging pressure from said operating member to said pair of. clutch elements, said means comprising a fulcrum member.. arranged to transmit pressure toene .ofsaid pair of elutchelements, bell crank levers .eachY having an axiallyr extending arm adapted to receive movement' from said'operating memberV and an arm extending generally radially inwardly, said levers being pivotedy 'at the Tjunctions voi said arms, on saidfulcrum member, and a second series of levers, one assofrom said operating'member to said ',pair. of Y clutch elementsfs'aid means comprising fa, iul-v crum member arranged toV transmit pressure to one of said pair :of elements, .a rst series of levers-each pivoted on said. fulcrum member, intermediate its ends, having a long arm extendingy axially andarranged to receive clutchoperating ipressure from said operating member 'i and a` short arm extending inwardlyand arf-y ranged to transmit the pressure; and a second seriesrof levers pivoted on said fulcrum member, outwardly of the pivots of the irst` series of levers,each associated with a lever of the nrst series, having a long arm extending .inwardly and arranged to receive the clutch-operating pressure from the short armY of the lever of the iirst series anda short arm extending outwardly and adapted tov transmit pressure .to the other of said pair of clutch elements, the inwardly extending arms of each pair 4of associated levers comprising an arm having a pair of spaced arm portions and an arm. at least partially embraced between said pair of spaced arm portions.

. 13. In a vfriction clutch a pair of clutch elements and a third clutch element` frictionally engageable between said pair of clutch elements, an annular axially shiftable operating member,

ciatedgwith-each ofi said bell crank IeVersand each pivotedg'intermediate its ends on said fulcrum member at a point radially outwardly of thepivotsjof the associated bell crank lever and having. ar long arm extendingl inwardly andarranged to receive pressureifrom, the inwardly extending arm `of the associated bell cranli lever Y n and a short'arm extending outwardlyand ar-j ranged to transmit pressure to the other of said pair of elements. j y

14. In a friction clutch, a pair'of clutchv elements and a third clutch element frictionally engageable between said Vpair of clutch elements, the other of said pair of clutch elements comprising a pressure plate, an-axially shiftable operating member, and means for transmitting clutch engaging pressure from said .operating memberv to said pair of clutch elements, said means comprising a fulcrum member arranged to transmit pressure to one of said-pair of ele- 'ments, a first series of levers pivoted on said /fulcrumf memben. arranged to receive clutchoperating' pressure from said operating mem- Abemand Veach yhaving an arm extending generally radially inwardly, and a second series of levers, each associated with a lever-of the rst series,Y each pivoted, intermediate its ends, on said fulcrum member at a point radially outwardly of the pivot ofthe associated lever of the rst'vs'eries and each having an arm extending inwardly and arranged to Areceive pressure from the associated leverlancly an armv extending outwardly .and arranged to .bear against said pressure plate to transmit pressure thereto.

15. In a friction clutch, driving` and ldriven clutch elements including a pairV of clutch elements and a third 'clutch 'element frictionally engageable between said pair of clutch elements,

one of said 'clutch elements includingahub porv tion having." af plurality' of' axially extending bores, Van axially shiftabley operating member, and' means for Ytransmitting .clutch-engaging pressure fromfsaid operating'member to said pair. of clutch elements, comprising a fulcrum.

memberadapted to transmit the pressure to oneV of said pair tof clutch elements, a plurality of operating levers fulcrumed on said fulcrum member and each having one arm arranged to be acted upon by said operating 'member' and another arm extending generally radially inwardly, a plurality. of springs and adjustment meansoperatively interposed in seriesbetween said vinwardly 'extending arms., and the Vother clutch4 element, said springs being mounted 'in said bores and adapted to transmit clutch-engaging pressure at a substantially fixed 'maximum while permitting'the operating memberjsol overtravel the point of completeV clutch engage-` f ment, to provide a take-up fory wear, and said adjustment meansv being adapted to provide further adjustment for restoring the overtravel after a substantial reduction thereof though wear has taken place.

RAYMOND.v A. CARLSON. 

